Make Me Smart Another budget breakdown. Why are we like this?
Oct 2, 2025
Molly Reynolds, the interim vice president at the Brookings Institution and a federal budget expert, joins Kimberly to dissect the chaos surrounding government shutdowns. They explore how shutdowns became a political tool and the complexities added during the Trump administration. Molly highlights the implications of a shrinking discretionary budget and the constraints imposed by continuing resolutions. The discussion also touches on the broader impacts of shutdowns on federal workers and local economies, ultimately calling for Congress to reclaim its budgetary authority.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Appropriations Are A Must-Pass Pressure Cooker
- The appropriations process has become a political battleground because it is one of the few must-pass items each year.
- That must-pass status concentrates conflict and makes timely budgets much harder to achieve.
Executive Actions Undermine Congressional Spending
- The executive branch's moves to freeze funds and dismantle agencies have complicated Congress's power of the purse.
- Lawmakers now doubt whether their spending decisions will actually be implemented by the administration.
A Narrow Slice Still Matters A Lot
- Much of the federal budget is on autopilot, leaving a narrowing slice for appropriations fights.
- Even a smaller slice can deeply affect millions when programs and paychecks are disrupted by a lapse in funding.